The final defense of Womac Tower will last 1 more day after The Gallants get out of the tunnels – Gale and Darian lead the defenders in a struggle to the death with the Umbakians – who eventually kill the two of them, and the tower surrenders with less than 20 defenders left alive.
The remaining Gallants make their way north towards County Faer and the Duke’s secure territory. There, they run into Earl Christopher Vaughns “army”. they learn the Duke is still busy fighting in the north against the Merchant Cities, and his vassal is all that could be mustered on short notice. There are no combat veterans except the Stone platoons from the fighting the Orrish over the pass to Fandelok. Their spirit is great, but they are used to cramp quarter fighting – Kanis sizes them up and do not expect them to do well in open field battle.
Silvas convinces the Earl to let them keep the Golden Child and deliver her to safety, and spends a day trying to formulate a battle plan. It does not go well – everyone hopes that outnumbering them will serve to work in threatening them to go home.
The party pushes hard and makes a 5 day trip back to Mev – trying not to upset the Golden Child. She draws out a pool of Mana in Silvas that he has been searching for.
Tanner Holraf meets the group in Mev and Silvas has both public and private meetings. Piray Elswith is the new red wizard of House Malor, sent to “assist” Tanner – he fears he is a spy and nothing more. Mev mobilizes under Tanner and silvas to resupply The Gallants. Tanner says that The Gallants cannot go back to their old ways, that Geraldine has people from Umbak, Richfield, The Riverdans and Merchant Cities coming and going. The schemes must stop – and that the nobles of the region have no trust for the “old guard”. He also says that his time may be limited here – years have passed and the region is stable. The Regency may go to a council of locals – balanced between rival factions to make sure none can get an upper hand. There may be political infighting – and nothing might unify them like the meddling Gallants.
They have the Regent’s healer for a couple days and leave. They are given a muster of 30 troops and a like number of logistics from Tanner – mostly men past their prime and levy. The Golden Child is left in Tanner’s care – she will be escorted back to Dunstrand City.
They go to Braddon Bog to see Geri. She identifies most of the magic from Black Omen Hall except for one ring. Over an evening meal, Geri says the Gallants should get involved to ensure Bar-Innis stays stable. Too much has gone into securing it to see it lost to the squabbles of nobles again.
The group, with Geri, travels to Dogwood Flats.
In Dogwood Flats for a couple days, Chotla, Fred and Alaine make it back. They describe flight through northern Umbak, the ferry crossing, Jaq’s leading away to some Lightbringer place of their pursuers, and Loamwold and help from Halflings.
Return to Mev to pick up their muster of troops. Silvas tries to get Tanner to give them a writ to control the army mustering at the city Keptrich in The Saelish – he fails. Silvas stays to hear rumors and work information from the Earl’s court in Mev, while others with troops go on to Keptrich. In 2 Days in Mev, Silvas hears rumors of military supplies gone missing, a band of mercenaries/adventurers hired to rescue Jaq. Jaq is a symbol to the people of the new breed of Gallants – she is important. An injured Ducateon seeking a band of adventurers for some quest he will not say – he is secretive. Silvas spends 1 more day and moves on after finding out little and distributing money. Finds out adventurers to free Jaq are hidden in a band of troops being sent to Keptrich. He stays 1 more day to have a private meeting with Tanner, in a place where no one can hear.
+1 day to catch up – Silvas rides hard, misses his warhorse greatly.
+3 days – entire troop and Gallants arrive in Keptrich.
Silvas tries to band the 3 barons there to march with an army and draw out the Umbakains. Talks his 30 men into initiating aggression in hopes rest will follow them – when it happens later, the 3 Barons men will not follow them; it makes little difference though, as Fort Pavec has been re-garrisoned and supplied. The army in the field gets the word a truce has been called at Womac Tower and retreats. Instead of striking against the besieged city, Earl Christopher Vaughn, with help from local scouts and guides, re-took the pass (defended by about 30 Umbakians) into the heart of The Saelish, opening the way for troops there to directly aid the siege and increasing the threat to the Umbakians. By now, Umbak knows they have lost the contest for the Golden Child.
2.5 days to Birchwood Ferry
Bungled crossing – into the river go The Gallants. Silvas poses as a “believer” and is a bit touched in the head, a poor traveling merchant. It allows him to get across, but the half elf and Grollen are just too much for the guards to believe – half way across they are attacked as Gallants and the rope for the ferry is severed – setting them adrift. Taelin and Kanis are separated from Silvas – both believe the other dead at the hands of the Umbakains at the trade outpost and continue on to the abbey once they get away and get their bearings.
Meet at the Abbey in 2 separate groups – Silvas goes to challenge Umbak troops camped outside keeping Jaq in “right to enter the Abbey”. Kanis and Taelin attack under the distraction and save Silvas. Last 2 Umbakians surrender – White Sisters tend to everyone’s wounds. Silvas told Jaq has renounced violence and will not be leaving.
Taelin sent on patrol, Kanis and Silvas enter the abbey against the wishes of the White Sisters. They force White Sisters out of the way, breaking lines of hands, pushing a few down, and managing to grab Jaq in the laundry.
Way out is barred, Kanis throws Jaq over the wall, but succumbs to the peace and stillness of Aerna. Taelin hears Kanis’ final roar and comes to help. Silvas has to carry Kanis over the threshold and the spell is broken. They make haste along the river, into Loamwold and find the Halfling traders and the zipline over the river. Kanis almost takes the zip line down and has to be pulled. Silvas tries to get Kanis new horse and the cavalry horse Jaq takes back across the river and fails – it takes a full day to get everyone back together. This is the second group of Gallants to come this way – word is sent to Sustreynous Gim and he travels to Dogwood Flats to meet Thom Vynt and the Gallants again – something is happening and he senses it is time.
3 days back to Keptrich over harsh terrain.
7 days back to Braddon Bog – Geri is insulted by Silvas.
Geri agrees to “deprogram” Jaq – she has made several vows – to get revenge on silvas, she forces Jaq to read Midnight in Cavaris (6 days and it nearly kills her – were it not for the White Sisters healing her to full, she would be dead). She is tainted and broken when it’s done. Geri asks for a couple veterans from Dogwood Flats to “help” then travels with the group to Dogwood Flats.
2 days in Dogwood Flats talking about Anwin leaving and getting revenge/battle and options there.
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